AUSTIN, TX—The Bureau of Labor Statistics recently released new data on unemployment by educational level. During 2012, 4.3% of Texans that possessed some form of postsecondary training are unemployed, compared to 7.6% of those with only a high school diploma or less.

“This new data is just one more piece of evidence that shows the central role education will play in helping curb unemployment in Texas,” said Texas Association of Business (TAB) President and CEO Bill Hammond. “It’s clear we need to ensure that every Texan has access to postsecondary education. Students who attend career-oriented institutions are given the opportunity to excel in employable occupations, from information technology to medical professions, which helps them attain financial security in an uncertain economy.”

By offering flexible course schedules and degrees in high-demand fields of study, private sector colleges and universities are playing a vital role in getting America’s workers back to work.

“The U.S. Department of Labor predicts a shortage of more than 35 million skilled and educated workers nationwide over the next 30 years,” Hammond said. “The education that private colleges and universities provide will help ensure that Texas meets these future employment demands with an educated and skilled workforce.”

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Founded in 1922, the Texas Association of Business is a broad-based, bipartisan organization representing more than 3,000 small and large Texas employers and 200 local chambers of commerce.